Illinois governor’s race: who’s running on Nov. 3, 2026

Supports cutting taxes, spending and regulation to improve affordability, and proposes a state DOGE-style audit of spending.

Proposes cutting tax breaks for large out-of-state firms and expanding grants, loans and credits for small businesses, manufacturers and farms.

Supports raising wages, citing the $15 minimum wage, a doubled child tax credit and medical debt relief; proposes more housing and down-payment aid.

At the Oct. 2026 debate, responded to Medicaid funding and hospital strain by saying lawmakers should reprioritize state spending and blamed the governor's record; no health coverage plan stated.

Proposes price transparency, fewer state insurance mandates, association health plans and direct primary care, and barring private equity from owning practices.

Supports universal health care, calls health care a right, and cites a $35 insulin cap and medical debt relief; opposes federal Medicaid cuts.

Supports repealing the TRUST Act, state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and ending state spending on undocumented residents.

Supports local police focusing on local policing while allowing cooperation with federal agents on violent offenders; proposes amending the TRUST Act.

Signed a 2025 law barring civil immigration arrests near courthouses and adding protections at hospitals, colleges and day cares; supports deporting violent offenders.

Personally opposes abortion but pledges not to change Illinois abortion laws; campaign says it will not seek to restrict access.

Supports abortion rights and says government should stay out of women's medical decisions.

Supports abortion access and has signed laws making Illinois a haven for abortion care; founded Think Big America to back abortion-rights ballot measures.

Proposes a 1% cap on property tax bills, a lower estate tax, free toll roads and spending cuts to pay for them.

Proposes taxing services to lower property and sales taxes, ending sales tax on essentials, phasing out the estate tax, and replacing the gas tax with mileage fees.

Pledges balanced budgets without raising income or sales taxes; cites ending the state grocery tax; still backs a graduated income tax concept.

Supports repealing the SAFE-T Act, restoring cash bail and tightening electronic monitoring rules for released defendants.

Said the state must 'fund our police and fire'; supports more gun control measures; proposes amending the TRUST Act so local police can coordinate with federal authorities.

Says he is open to changes to the SAFE-T Act's pretrial rules and is adding state police; says judges and prosecutors should decide pretrial release.

Proposes replacing the State Board of Education, reducing unfunded mandates and rethinking the evidence-based school funding formula, with more local control.

Proposes having the state fully fund public schools, close district funding gaps and expand school construction aid to ease property taxes.

Cites record school funding through the Evidence-Based Funding formula and seeks universal preschool by 2027–28; undecided on federal tax-credit scholarships.

Says Illinois is phasing out fossil-fuel power too soon; supports an all-of-the-above approach including small nuclear reactors and renewables.

Affordability plan includes 'bringing down energy costs, reining in unchecked data center growth'; also proposes a mileage-based road tax as EVs erode fuel-tax revenue.

Signed the January 2026 Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act expanding battery storage, renewables and new nuclear; backs requiring data centers to supply clean power.